Automaton



' (No Model.) zsheets-sheem 1Q A. M. PIERCE.

AUTOMATON. No. 398,276. Patented Feb. 19 1889.

FIG.

WITNESSES, INVENTER N. PETERS, Plmxoulm m her. Washington, DC.

PATENT ARTHUR M. PIERCE, OF LYNDHURST, NElV JERSEY.

AUTOMATON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 398,276, dated February 19, 1889. Application filed August 27, 1887. Renewed July 21, 1888. Serial No. 280,686. (No model.)

To all 1071,0722, it may concern/.- i

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. PIERCE, a 5 citizen of the United States, and a resident of j Lyndhurst, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatons, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates especially to that class of devices known as automatons, and has for its object the provision of an automaton l for distributing cards, circulars, the.

To attain the desired end my invention coni sists, essentially, in a figure representing a human being. One of the arms and the hand thereon is made movable in such a manner that it will hold one of the cards to be disi tributed in an extended position until removed, the cards being supplied byautomatic feeding mechanism within the trunk or body 1 of the figure; and my invention also involves i certain other novel and useful combinations or arrangements of parts and peculiarities of construction and operation, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

I11 the drawings, Figure 1 is a front cleval tion of my automaton, showing the right arm extended. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the trunk and arm of the automaton, showing the location and arrangement of the actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the j regulating-wheel of the motor. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the right hand of the figure. Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the joint at the elbow of the right arm, showing the mechanism employed for moving the thumb. Fig. 7 is a side view of the cardholder and feeding mechanism, the deliverychute being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view at line a: a: of Fig.

Like letters of reference, wherever they oc cur, indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

1 is the trunk of the figure, made of any approved material and supported upon legs resting on a standard in any desirable manner. The arms 2 and S are made of wire-work or other light material. The rightarm is made in two sections, the section joined to the body being rigid and terminating at the elbow in a disk, 4. A bearing, 5, is located in arm 3 at or near the point of union with the trunk.

Mounted within the rigid section of the right arm is a shaft, 6, which finds a support in the bearing 5 and disk at, as indicated in Fig. 2. The upper extremity of shaft 6 bears a pulley, 7, wherein are grooves 8. The lower or movable portion of arm 3 from the elbow is made separate from the part above described, and is fixed to the lower extremity of shaft 6. This forearm is bent in such a manner that the hand 9 will strike the trunk near the waist when the arm is moved theretoward, and will hold the hand extended when moved in the opposite direction.

The hand 9 is rigidly secured to the forearm, the thumb 10 having a slight upward and downward movementindependent of the swinging of the arm. The thumb 10 is mounted upon a pivot, 11, within the hand in such a manner to permit it to rise. slightly from the extremity of the forefinger 12, the elevation of the thumb being effected through the medium of a cord or wire, 13, passing to the elbowjoint and to actuating mechanism, which will'be explained below. The thumb is normally held down against the forefinger by a spring, 14, within the hand.

are insulated electrical conductors pass ing from metallic contact-pieces 1b, fixed in the thumb 10 and forefinger 12, to a battery, 17. An electro-magnet, 18, located within the trunk of the figure. An electric switch composed of a fixed contact, 19, and a swinging contact, 20, bearing an arm, 21, is inter posed in the magnet-circuit for the purpose of automatically breaking said circuit when the cards are exhausted from the holder, look ing the actuating mechanism against movement, as will be fully explained hereinafter.

The wire or cord 13 passes from the base of the thumb 10 around a pulley, 22, to a vertical slide, 23, playing in a slot, 2i, in the disk 25, forming the inner extremity of the movable forearm. Pivoted in slot 2a is an arm or lever, 26, the upper end whereof impinges against a step, 27, secured to the under side of disk at. The lever 26 bears againsta crossbar, 28, of the slide 23 when the disk 25 is turned toward the trunk of the figure and swings away from the slide when the disk moves in the opposite direction, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6.

29 is a spring-motor employed for moving the arm and feeding the cards, said motor being secured within the trunk of the figure. is the driving-shaft provided with two cranks, 31 and 32, the upper extremity of said shaft bearing a wheel, 32, wherein is a perforation or slot, 33. Passing from the cranks 31 and 32 are wires or cords 34, which extend around the grooved pulley 7 in opposite directions, their extremities being secured within the grooves.

is a lever pivoted to the frame of the motor, and bearin at its free end an armature, 36, located in front. of the poles of the magnet 18.

37 is a downwardly-extending arm secured to lever or bar 35 in such a position that when said bar is depressed arm 37 will drop into the slot or perforation in wheel 39, but when raised will ride upon the upper face of the wheel.

38 is a second depending arm attached to bar 35 in such a position that when depressed it will be struck by the regulating fly-fan. 39 of the motor; but when raised it will permit the free movement of the same.

40 is a horizontal shaft driven by bevelwheels and 44 is a card-holder located in the trunk of the figure, the back and one side being provided with a movable lining, 45, which may be closed up or drawn out by means of setscrews 46, in. order to accommodate diiferent sizes of cards. \Vithin the holder 44 is asupporting-platform, 4'7, arms 48 upon each side thereof extending through slots 49 in each side of holder 44 and engaging with springs 50. The upper ends of springs 50 are secured near the top of the holder.

51 is a drum, its shaft 54 being mounted in bearings 52 at each side of the top of the holder. The face of the drum is provided with short spurs 53. One end of shaft 54 bears a ratchetwheel, 55, and a ratchet, 56, is mounted upon the extremity of an arm, 57, pivoted upon the drum shaft. 58 is a pitman passing from crank 41 to a set-screw, 59, ad justably secured in a slot, 60, in arm 57.

At the front of holder 44 is located a 110pper, 61, terminating in a curved chute, 62, extending through the trunk of the figure to a card case or receiver, ($3, which is clasped by the left hand, 64, of the figure. are light springs fixed at the mouth of the receiver 63, which, while permitting a card to be withdrawn from the receiver, prevent its accidentally falling therefrom.

66 is a set-screw passing through the back of receiver 63, and engaging with a movable gage or back, 67, in order that the depth of the receiver may be regulated for different widths of cards.

\Vhen constructed and arranged in accordanee with the foregoing description, the operation of my card-distributing automaton is as follows: Cards being supplied to the holder, they are held up against the feeding-roller. The motor being wound up and the magnetcircuit closed, the right hand will move toward the receiver in the left hand, grasping the card between the thumb and forefinger when the receiver is reached. The card opens the magnet-circuit, permitting the arm 37 to drop against the wheel. 32, and when the hand has reached its limit of outward movement the said arm 37 drops into the slot 33, and the escapement of the motor is brought to a standstill by striking arm 38. The hand will remain in an extended position until the card is removed, by which act the magnetcircuit is closed, raising the stop from the escapement, and the hand will again grasp a card,which in the meantime has been fed to the receiver, and this movement will be repeated until all the cards are exhausted. When the card-support reaches the switch 19 20, the arm 21 will be raised, breaking the magnet-circuit, preventing further action of the automaton until more cards are supplied to the holder.

Having now fully described. my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An automaton having an electricallycontrolled movable arm, the hand whereof is adapted and arranged to grasp a card or its equivalent and hold the hand in an extended position until the card is removed therefrom, when the contact is established and the electric circuit completed, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an automaton representing a human being provided with a single movable arm,

the hand thereon being adapted and arranged to grasp a card or its equivalent, in combination with a device located within said automaton for feeding the cards to said hand, substantially as shown and described.

In an automaton of the character herein specified, an actuating-motor, in combination with a fixed upper arm, a movable forearm the hand thereon being provided with a movable thumb, a card-holder located in the body of the figure, and a chute leading to a receiver grasped by the stationary hand of the figure, toward which said movable arm is carried when the electric circuit is completed and the motor set in operation, substantially as shown and described. A I

4. In an automatic card-distributer consisting of a figure provided with a swinging forearm, the combination,with a hand adapted and arranged to grasp and hold a card, of a card receiver and holder provided with an in termittently-movcd feeding-roller, and a motor for imparting motion to the whole, substantiall y as shown and described.

5. In an automaton of the character herein specified, the combination, with a hand the thumb whereof is made movable, of a swinging arm, electrical conductors passi n g tl iro ugh the arm and hand to contact-pieces upon the thumb and forefinger, by means of which the electric circuit may be completed or broken, an electro-magnet and battery located in the circuit of which said conductors form a part, the armature of the magnet bearing an arm adapted and arranged to control the movement of the actuating mechanism of the automaton, substantially as shown and described.

(3. In an automaton, the combination, with an actu'ating-1notor provided with a regnlating fly-lan, and the bar or lever 35,pivoted above the same and provided at its free end with an armature, 36, and with a downwardlyprojecting arm, 33, of an clectro-magnet arranged in juxtaposition to said armature, and

abattery, '17, situated below the whole, and provided with cond noting-wires 15, leading to contact-pieces 1U 1U, situated in the forefinger and thumb, respectively, of the figure, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

7. In an automaton of the character herein specified, the combination, with the electric circuit and magnet controlling the movement of the actuating mechanism, of a switch located in said electric circuit and composed of an immovable contact-piece, 19, and swinging contact 20, provided with an arm, 21, on the same, whereby the circuit is automatically opened when the cards are exhausted from the holder, substantially as and for the uses and purpose shown and described.

8. In an automaton, the combination, with an actuating-motor the main shaft of which being provided at its upper end with a slotted disk, 32, and an arm or lever pivoted above the same and provided with the two downwardly-projecting arms 37 and 3S, and at its free end with an armature, 36, of an electromagnet, 19, situated above said armature, and the battery located below said magnet and provided with condnoting-wires 15 15, leading to contact-pieces 16 16 in the thumb and toreii nger of the figure, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the motor having a regulating fly-fan, 39, and the main driving-shaft bearing a slotted wheel, 32, of a bar, 35, pivoted above the same and provided with inwardly-projecting arms 37 and 38 and with an armature, 2-30, on its free end, cond uctors 15, leading from the battery 17 to contact-pieces ll situated in the thumb and torefinger, respectively, of the iigure, and an electric switch composed of a fixed contact, 19, and swinging contact 20, the movement of which is C(Hitl'flllttl by the support i3 within the cardholder, substantially as shown and describml.

1t). 'lhecombination,with thchainlf), of the movable thumb .10, mounted upon a pivot, 11, and normally held against the forefinger '12 by a spring, it, a cord or wire, 13, passing to a slide, 23, mounted in disk 25, the movement of said slide being controlled by a pivoted arm, 26, and a step, 27, fixed on disk r, substantially as shown and described.

11. In an automatomthe combination,with the main driving-shaft, of the cranks 31 and 32, formed on the same, and the cords or wires 34, connecting said cranks with the wheel 7,

rigidly attached to the shaft 6, to the extreme lower end oi which is fastened the movable forearm, substantially as and For the purposes set i'ortln 12. In an autoinaion,the combination,with the main driving-shaft, oi. the actuating-moter provhlcdwith cranks 31 and 32, formed there-- on io which are attached the ends of the cords or wires 3i, wound oppositely around the periphcryot the wheel 7, rigidly attached to the upper end of the shaft t, to the lower end of which is fastened the swinging forearm and hand provided with the verticallymovable thumb, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

1?. In an automaton of the character dc scribed, an actuating-motor, 29, the drivingshaft 30 of which is provided with the cranks 31 and 32, formed thereon, to which are attached the cords or wires 34, wound opposit-ely around the periphery of the wheel 7,

attached to the upper end of the shaft 6, to

the lower end of which is fastened the swing ing forearm provided with an integral hand, 9, having a 'vertically-movable thumb normally held in a lowered position by means of a spring, 14:, and to which is attached the cord or wire 13, leading therefrom to a slide, 23, the movements of which are controlled by means of a swinging arm, 26, and step 27, substantially as described, and as herein set forth.

11L. In an automaton of the character described, the combination, with the drivingshaft 30, provided near its lower end with a bevel gear-wheel, 43, meshing with a similar gear-wheel, 42, rigidly attached to one end of an axle, -10, near the other end of which is a crank, 41, of a pitman, 58, connecting this crank 41 with the ratchetbar 57, to which is attached the separate ratchet 5U, acting in conjunction with the ratchet-wheel 55, to the axle of which is rigidly fastened the ieedingdrum 51, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

15. An automaton representing a hum an be ing, and in combination with the same, a cardholder containing cards, a spur feeding-roller above and adapted to intermittently remove the cards from the same, and an actuatingmotor within said automaton and adapted to operate said spur feeding-roller, substantially as described.

16. In an automaton of the character described, the combination, with the card-holder hopper tll,and chriteli2,located near the same and leading to acard-receiver, from which the cards are removed by the hand 9, on the 1n ovable forearm, of a feeding-roller located above them and adapted to transfer the cards singly from said holder to said chute, with an intermittent movement corresponding with the motions of said hand 9, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

17 .flhe combination, with the ca1ml-receiver to which the cards are intermittently fed, of

, ahand mounted upon a swinging arm adapted IIO and arranged to automatically remove the cards from said receiver, and mechanism for n'loving' said arm, substantially as shown and described.

In an automatomthe cmnbination, with the card-holder H and feed-roller 51, located above the same, of the hopper U], with chute (12, leading; from its lower cud to a receiver, (33, provided with a s0row-actuated adjustable back, 67, substantially as described, and for the purposes herein set forth.

19. I11 an automaton, a card-receiver located in the stationary hand, to which cards are illtermittently fed as fast as removed by the other and swinging hand attached to an 0scilla'ting' forearm, the whole being operated ARTHUR M PIERCE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS F. BYRNE, WM. H. WEIGHTMAN. 

